The proposal describes Alaska as ranking highest in the nation (92.3 percent) for low-income youth who do not go on to college. It is further discussed that Alaska has the highest national suicide rate (23.8 percent) among Native American youth, as well as the nation's highest rate of illegal drug use, and the Kuskokwim Campus falls below the federal poverty line and 25 percent of the campus are unemployed. In an effort to combat these issues, the college will use Title III funds to attempt to remove two major barriers [low-income barriers and lack of emotional and psychological support barriers] they describe as a hindrance to student enrollment and retention. The college will create a student financial aid office and a comprehensive student wellness program that will help provide emotional and psychological support to students as well as resources for healthy life choices. The college will also strengthen the library, a key component of the education system.

Through program development, the plan is to strengthen partnerships between the campus and the regional partners, develop a campus management information system, and create an active alumni organization.

The project goal is to strengthen increase the number of students pursuing and/or completing education by increasing the number of students completing the financial aid process; increasing the proportion of students with active Lifelong Learning Plans; and increase the percentage of students completing credit hours toward a certificate or degree. The goal is also to increase success in college through enhanced accessibility to readiness for, and relevancy of higher learning opportunities by increasing the number of formal partnership agreements providing direct student support; increasing collaborate efforts with the University of Alaska departments and programs; and increasing the proportion of new students completing academic courses.

Activity One: Quick Start: Strengthening Instructional Services – The problem is described as low course completion rates, high drop out rates and, consequently, low program retention rates. The goal is to establish a student success center and strengthen instructional support services by providing a help desk to serve distance students by making early intervention contact; increasing instructional services by evaluating and modifying instructional services to effectively serve distance and on-campus students; and enhancing student tracking and data management to enable tutors and advisors to better help students that may fall behind academically.

Activity Two: Program Enhancement - Through this activity the project will develop a "Fast Track" program to form partnerships with regional businesses to provide training and skill-enhancement opportunities, increase distance course offerings, provide faculty development opportunities, and increase opportunities of articulation with four-year institutions.

The project is geared towards creating student development programs that are appropriate for regional community development. Creating these programs will increase the retention, persistence, and performance of Native students by initiating community tutoring and residential programs, and developing faculty advisor training programs. The goals are to strengthen and develop academic programs with a focus on increasing student enrollment in Science, Technology, English and Math (STEM) related certificates and degree programs; strengthen employability skills and to develop multi-media teaching strategies to increase student retention, persistence, and performance; and institute a campus development office.

To strengthen student services the college plans, over a five-year period, to improve student retention in the outlying villages through a comprehensive combination of village Retention Facilitators combining the best distance education software, access to computers with high-speed Internet connectivity, village computer lab tutors, and a series of workshops. Three academic programs will be developed and instituted to strengthen academic programs.

Develop an outreach program to high school students to provide them with the services needed to encourage and develop skills and interest in pursuing a postsecondary education. The project is designed to develop the academic skills and interests, of high school Indian students, that are needed to succeed in college by having students participate in a six week summer outreach program designed to strengthen their college success skills, and provide bridging support as they transition into college level studies.

ALASKA NATIVE-SERVING INSTITUTIONS RENOVATION GRANTS

Funds will be used to renovate the Harper Building Student Learning Center on this campus. The center is mainly used for to provide learning experiences in areas that are needed to ensure student retention and to provide space for supportive and intervention services workshops. The heating and ventilation system will also be overhauled.

Through this activity an existing classroom will be renovated into a furnished physics laboratory, other renovations will be performed on the existing science lab to correct safety and overcrowding issues.

The goal of this project is to renovate existing space in order to develop employability training and provide multi-use facilities for current programs that provide for basic life, health, and safety issues.

NATIVE HAWAIIAN-SERVING INSTITUTIONS DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

This project is designed to: increase Native Hawaiian student success and retention through the development and revision of curriculum using a multi-cultural foundation and perspective in support of student learning; to increase faculty and student access to Hawaiian language and curriculum resources with the development of a comprehensive catalog of Hawaiian language resource materials through the use of technology; and to establish a faculty and staff multicultural development program.

P031W050003
University of Hawaii
Windward Community College
Kaneohe, HI

The college seeks to improve student and institutional success. Student success will be improved through the development of an intervention program that will result in reduced numbers of students being placed on academic probation. Institutional success will be achieved by updating the credit curriculum to meet accreditation requirements for assessment of student learning outcomes and program review.

Implementation of this grant's activities will: assist the college with strengthening the crucial role that the college performs for the indigenous people and general population of Maui County by actively preserving the perpetuating Hawaiian culture, language, and values; assist with achieving shared institutional culture that makes students learning and success the responsibility of all; and, support the county and state economy, workforce development, and improve access to lifetime education for all by building partnerships with the University of Hawaii system and with other public and private educational, governmental, and business institutions.

The overall goals of this project are: to increase graduation, retention, and success rates through the implementation of a comprehensive case management system targeting all under-prepared students; and to improve the college's ability to place incoming students in the appropriate services, track student information and report outcomes on all students through the purchase and implementation of improved assessment methods.

NATIVE HAWAIIAN-SERVING INSTITUTIONS RENOVATION GRANTS

The focus of this project is the renovation of two laboratories primarily used for biology and chemistry classes. The outcome of this renovation will result in increased enrollment and graduation rates in the sciences.

Funds for this project will be used for the renovation of existing space to establish a Center for Leadership and Cultural Studies. This renovation will support two Title III Development grant activities. The Center will serve as classroom and meeting space to develop and teach new and revised courses, space for weekly student discussion groups, peer tutoring and mentoring, faculty and staff multicultural training, workshops and research, and faculty, staff, and student training in the effective use of educational technology. Completion of this activity will result in the increase of faculty and staff incorporation of multicultural perspectives in curricula and support services, and an increase in educational and leadership resource materials available to faculty, staff, and students.

P031W050010
University of Hawaii
Kapiolani Community College
Honolulu, HI